JP2007299229A - Network service providing system and network service delivery method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a network service providing system and a network service delivery method for distributing loads depending on a throughput of a system for delivering contents. <P>SOLUTION: Even when access is concurrently concentrated to a network service providing system 1, a re-access request time issuing unit 7 generates re-access request time points in which access time points are distributed at prescribed intervals, and issues re-access request time points data 8 to each user terminal 3 in real time. The terminal 3 request content deliveries in accordance with the data 8 to avoid extreme load concentration on the system 1. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a network service providing system and a network service distribution method for distributing a load in various contents distribution as a network service.

  In recent years, with the development of environments such as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) and FTTH (Fiber To The Home), high-speed Internet and IP (Internet Protocol) network services, so-called broadband, have become widespread, and content such as video and music has been expanded. Services to be distributed have been expanded, and it has become common for users to acquire and view content such as video and music by operating terminals such as personal computers and digital televisions connected to the IP network.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a network service providing system 101 in a conventional network service. A plurality of user terminals 103 are connected to the IP network 102, access the network service providing system 101 via the IP network 102, and receive content distribution from the network service providing system 101.

  Conventionally, when access to the network service providing system 101 from the user terminal 103 is concentrated in a specific time zone due to specifications such as broadband broadcasting or operational reasons, the load on the network service providing system 101 is reduced. There was a problem that communication failure occurred due to overload.

In order to solve this problem, for example, an authentication code corresponding to the access permission time for the specific content distributed in advance is issued to the user terminal 103 and stored in the user database. A method of temporally distributing access to specific content by checking an authentication code issued for access and access permission time against a user database and permitting access to the specific content only when they match. Has been devised. (For example, Patent Document 1)
JP 2001-282622 A

  In the above method, it is necessary to issue an authentication code corresponding to the access permission times distributed in advance to the user terminal and store it in the user database. However, with the diversification of content, the types and quantities of content increase, and some content can be edited immediately after the competition, such as news programs and sports programs that need urgency, and distributed within a short time. The number of programs that cannot be prepared in advance has increased. In addition, in the case of distributing digital television broadcast programs that distribute video and audio using a regional IP network and information related to the programs, transmission / reception that issues an authentication code to the user terminal in advance The form of is not appropriate.

  Under such circumstances, there is a need for a network service providing system that does not require advance preparation and that can perform load distribution according to the processing capability of a system that distributes content so that failures due to access concentration do not occur.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a network service providing system and a network service delivery method capable of load distribution according to the processing capability of a system for delivering content.

  In order to achieve the above object, a network service providing system of the present invention is connected to an IP network, receives content data distribution requests from a plurality of user terminals, monitors the number of access of the distribution requests from the user terminals, User access monitoring means for comparing the number of accesses with a predetermined threshold; data distribution means for distributing the content data to the user terminal; and storing the content data and supplying the content data to the data distribution means Content data storage means, and when the number of accesses exceeds the threshold value, the user terminal generates a re-access request time for requesting that the user terminal access again later to make a delivery request for the content data. And a re-access request time issuing means for issuing to the terminal.

  Also, the network service distribution method of the present invention receives a content data distribution request from a plurality of user terminals connected to an IP network, monitors the number of accesses of the distribution request from the user terminal, Comparing a threshold value, generating a re-access request time for allowing the user terminal to access again to request distribution of content data when the number of accesses exceeds the threshold value; Issuing the access request time to the user terminal, and delivering the content data to the user terminal when the number of accesses does not exceed the threshold, the re-access request time at a predetermined time interval The number of accesses is generated so as to fall within the range of the threshold value.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to distribute the load of a network service provision system, and to deliver the stable content.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a network service providing system 1 according to the present invention. The network service providing system 1 is connected to the IP network 2, and a plurality of user terminals 3 connected to the IP network 2 access the network service providing system 1 via the IP network 2 and request distribution of contents. The content distribution is received from the network service providing system 1.

  In FIG. 1, the network service providing system 1 includes a user access monitoring unit 4, a data distribution unit 5, a data file 6 and a reaccess request time issuing unit 7. The user access monitoring unit 4 is a user access monitoring unit that receives a content distribution request from the user terminal 3 and monitors the access status such as the number of accesses from the user terminal 3. The data distribution unit 5 is a data distribution unit that acquires corresponding data from the data file 6 in response to a request from the user terminal 3 and distributes the data. The data file 6 is content data storage means for storing content data files accumulated for the network service. The re-access request time issuing unit 7 generates a re-access request time when the user access monitoring unit 4 sends a signal notifying that the number of accesses exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the re-access request time is transmitted to the user terminal 3. Re-access request time issuing means for issuing data 8.

  The re-access request time is a time when the user terminal requests to access again later to make a content distribution request to the network service providing system 1, and the re-access request time data 8 is the re-access request time. Is data for transmitting to the user terminal. The re-access request time data 8 is issued to the user terminal 3 when the number of data distribution request accesses from the user terminal 3 exceeds a predetermined threshold, and the user terminal 3 receives the re-access request time data 8 After waiting until the next re-access request time is reached, the network service providing system 1 is again accessed for the content distribution request.

  Each user terminal 3 simultaneously accesses the network service providing system 1 at the update time of the data file 6 (for example, 0: 0). The user access monitoring unit 4 receives a content distribution request from the user terminal 3 and monitors whether the number of accesses from the user terminal 3 is within a predetermined threshold range. The predetermined threshold is a predetermined safety factor (for example, 90%) for the maximum number of processing cases in which the network service providing system 1 can deliver contents at a predetermined time interval (for example, 5 minutes from 0: 0 to 0: 5). Is a numerical value representing the processing capacity multiplied by. When the number of accesses from the user terminal 3 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the user access monitoring unit 4 transmits a signal indicating that the threshold has been exceeded to the re-access request time issuing unit 7 and continuously transmits access status data. To do.

  Upon receiving a signal indicating that the threshold value has been exceeded from the user access monitoring unit 4, the reaccess request time issuing unit 7 generates a reaccess request time by dividing the time into predetermined time intervals (for example, every 5 minutes). Re-access request time data 8 is issued to the user terminal 3 via the access monitoring unit 4.

  When the number of accesses from the user terminal 3 exceeds a predetermined threshold, a re-access request time of 0: 5 is generated from the exceeded number, and the re-access request time data 8 is transmitted to the user terminal 3. The user terminal 3 that has received the re-access request time data 8 waits until 0: 5 to make a content distribution request again, and receives content data.

  Furthermore, 90% of the maximum processing capacity in 5 minutes from 0: 5 to 0:10 (predetermined threshold), taking into account the number of cases where the re-access request time data 8 has already been issued at 0: 5 If it exceeds, the re-access request time data 8 from 0:10 is issued from the point where it exceeded. The user terminal 3 that has received the re-access request time data 8 of 0:10 waits until 0:10 and then re-accesses the content distribution server. The reaccess request time issuing unit 7 adjusts the issuance number of the reaccess request time data 8 so that the access number falls within a predetermined threshold range depending on the access situation transmitted from the user access monitoring unit 4 and changing every moment.

  The user access monitoring unit 4 and the reaccess request time issuing unit 7 do not authenticate the user terminal 3 that has reaccessed. Since the re-access request time issuing unit 7 only issues the re-access request time data 8, no preparation is required in advance, and even if the distribution requests are concentrated, the user terminal 3 is immediately responded and re-executed in real time. It is possible to issue access request time data 8. In this way, it is possible to distribute the content distribution processing according to the distribution processing capability of the network service providing system 1, and to avoid extreme load concentration.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing data transmission / reception between the network service providing system 1 and the user terminal 3. In S11, immediately after the data file 6 is updated, the user terminal 3 transmits a content distribution request to the user access monitoring unit 4 of the network service providing system 1 and starts access. In S <b> 12, the user access monitoring unit 4 of the network service providing system 1 receives the content distribution request from the user terminal 3.

  When the user access monitoring unit 4 receives the content distribution request, in step S13, the user access monitoring unit 4 compares whether the number of accesses of the content distribution request from the user terminal 3 is within a predetermined threshold range. The predetermined threshold is a numerical value obtained by multiplying the maximum number of processes that can be distributed by the network service providing system 1 at a predetermined time interval (for example, 5 minutes) by a predetermined safety factor (for example, 90%). When the number of accesses from the user terminal 3 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the user access monitoring unit 4 transmits a signal indicating that the threshold has been exceeded to the re-access request time issuing unit 7 and continuously transmits access status data. Then, the process proceeds to S14.

  In S14, the re-access request time issuing unit 7 generates a re-access request time. The re-access request time issuing unit 7 refers to the size of the content requested for distribution, the number of access requests, the access frequency, the distribution capability and the workload of the data distribution unit 5, and the user terminal 3 The access time is divided into predetermined intervals, and the re-access request time is generated so that the number of accesses falls within a predetermined threshold range.

  For example, when the number of processing cases (predetermined threshold) of 90% of the maximum processing capacity that can be distributed by the data distribution unit 5 in 5 minutes from 0:00 to 0: 5 is exceeded, it is 0 A re-access request time of a re-access request time of 5 minutes is generated. Furthermore, 90% of the maximum processing capacity in 5 minutes from 0: 5 to 0:10 (predetermined threshold), taking into account the number of cases where the re-access request time data 8 has already been issued at 0: 5 If it exceeds, a re-access request time of 0:10 re-access request time is generated from that point. In this way, the generation of the re-access request time is repeated according to the number of content distribution requests.

  In the above example, the interval is 5 minutes. However, if the amount of content data is large, the interval is 10 minutes, or the data distribution unit 5 distributes another content at the same time and the distribution processing of the data distribution unit 5 increases. If the number of accesses to the content distribution request from the user terminal 3 greatly exceeds the threshold, the time division interval may be increased, and can be increased or decreased as appropriate according to the load state of the data distribution unit 5. .

  In S15, the reaccess request time generated by the reaccess request time issuing unit 7 is transmitted to the user terminal 3 as reaccess request time data 8. In S16, the user terminal 3 receives the re-access request time data 8. The user terminal 3 refers to the reaccess request time in the reaccess request time data 8 and waits until the reaccess request time is reached.

  Since the user terminal 3 has reached the re-access request time in S17, the content distribution request is transmitted again. In S <b> 18, the user access monitoring unit 4 receives a distribution request from the user terminal 3.

  In S <b> 19, the data distribution unit 5 acquires the corresponding content from the data file 6 and distributes the content to the user terminal 3. In S20, the user terminal 3 receives the content.

  In S13, the user access monitoring unit 4 compares whether the number of accesses to the content distribution request from the user terminal 3 is within a predetermined threshold range. If the threshold has not been reached, the process proceeds to S19, where the data distribution unit 5 The corresponding content is acquired from 6 and the content is distributed to the user terminal 3.

  As described above, even when access is concentrated on the network service providing system 1 all at once, the re-access request time issuing unit 7 generates a re-access request time by dividing the time into predetermined intervals, and the re-access request time Data 8 is issued to each user terminal 3 in real time, and the user terminal 3 makes a content distribution request accordingly, thereby avoiding extreme load concentration on the network service providing system 1.

  The first embodiment of the present invention is not limited to the above configuration, and various modifications are possible.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the network service providing system 9 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the network service providing system 9 has a user access monitoring unit 4, a data distribution unit 5, a data file 6 and a re-access request time issuing unit 7 as in FIG. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that an access key issuing unit 10, an access key data 11, and an access key checking unit 12 are added to the network service providing system 9.

  The access key 13 is authentication data for authenticating whether the user terminal 3 has the right to access the network service providing system 9. The access key 13 has data associated with the data of the reaccess request time data 8, and guarantees that the user terminal 3 that has received the reaccess request time data 8 accesses with the regular reaccess request time data 8. To do.

  The access key issuing unit 10 is an access key issuing unit that generates an access key 13 and issues the access key 13 to the user terminal 3. The access key issuing unit 10 receives an access key generation signal from the user access monitoring unit 4, generates an access key 13 associated with the reaccess request time generated by the reaccess request time issuing unit 7, and transmits it to the user terminal 3. To do. The access key data 11 is an access key data storage unit that stores the access key 13 generated by the access key issuing unit 10 as a database. The access key checking unit 12 is an access key checking unit that checks whether the user access monitoring unit 4 has the right to re-access at a predetermined time requested by the access key 13 received from the user terminal 3.

  As a method for checking whether or not the access key 13 received from the user terminal 3 is correct, the access key checking unit 12 checks the data content of the access key 13 received from the user terminal 3 to determine the current time. There is a method of checking whether the access key 13 is correct by comparing with. The access key 13 has data associated with the data of the reaccess request time data 8 and is a method of comparing the data with the current time, and can be inspected in a short time. There is also a method in which the time access key checking unit 12 compares the access key 13 data received from the user terminal 3 with the data stored in the access key data 10 to determine whether or not they match.

  The generation of the reaccess request time and the issuance of the reaccess request time data 8 by the reaccess request time issuing unit 7 are the same as in the first embodiment. The reaccess request time issuing unit 7 generates a reaccess request time and transmits reaccess request time data 8 to the user terminal 3 via the user access monitoring unit 4. The access key issuing unit 10 also transmits the access key 13 to the user terminal 3 via the user access monitoring unit 4, but the access key 13 and the reaccess request time data 8 are transmitted to the user terminal 3 as a set of data. .

  The user access monitoring unit 4 confirms the access key 13 added to the content distribution request from the user terminal 3 with the access key checking means 11, and confirms that the access key 13 is a key that is permitted to be accessed in the current time zone. If confirmed, the data distribution unit 5 acquires the content data from the data file 6 and distributes it to the user terminal 3. Even if the user terminal 3 accesses before or after the permission time, by confirming the access key, unnecessary content distribution can be prevented, and smooth content distribution to the user terminal accessed within the permission time becomes possible. .

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating data transmission / reception between the network service providing system 9 and the user terminal 3 according to the second embodiment. In S21, the user terminal 3 transmits a content distribution request to the user access monitoring unit 4 of the network service providing system 9 and starts access. In S <b> 22, the user access monitoring unit 4 of the network service providing system 9 receives the content distribution request from the user terminal 3.

  When the user access monitoring unit 4 receives the content distribution request, in step S23, the user access monitoring unit 4 compares whether the number of accesses of the content distribution request from the user terminal 3 is within a predetermined threshold range. When the number of accesses from the user terminal 3 exceeds a predetermined threshold, the user access monitoring unit 4 transmits a signal indicating that the threshold has been exceeded to the re-access request time issuing unit 7 and continuously transmits access status data. Then, the process proceeds to S24.

  In S24, the re-access request time issuing unit 7 generates a re-access request time. Since the reaccess request time generation process of the reaccess request time issuing unit 7 is the same as that in the first embodiment (S14 in FIG. 2), it will not be described in detail here.

  In S25, the access key issuing unit 10 receives an access key generation signal from the user access monitoring unit 4, and generates an access key 13 associated with the reaccess request time generated by the reaccess request time issuing unit 7.

  The access key 13 generated in S26 is combined with the re-access request time data 8 via the user access monitoring unit 4 and transmitted to the user terminal 3 as a set of data. The access key issuing unit 10 transmits the generated access key 13 to the access key data 11, and the access key data 11 stores the access key 13 as a database.

  In S27, the user terminal 3 receives the re-access request time data 8 and the access key 13. The user terminal 3 refers to the reaccess request time in the reaccess request time data 8 and waits until the reaccess request time is reached.

  Since the user terminal 3 has reached the re-access request time in S28, the content distribution request is transmitted again. The user terminal 3 attaches and transmits the data of the access key 13 received in S27. In S29, the user access monitoring unit 4 receives a distribution request from the user terminal 3. The user access monitoring unit 4 transmits the received data of the access key 13 to the access key checking unit 12.

  In S30, the access key checking unit 12 compares the access key 13 received from the user access monitoring unit 4 with the corresponding access key data stored in the access key data 11, and transmits the determination result to the user access monitoring unit 4. . Further, the access key 13 has data associated with the re-access request time of the re-access request time data 8, and it is immediately confirmed whether or not the access key 13 is accessed within the range of the re-access request time only by checking the access key 13. The inspection method can be selected according to the situation.

  If it is determined that the access key 13 is correct, the process proceeds to S 31, where the data distribution unit 5 acquires the corresponding content from the data file 6 and distributes the content to the user terminal 3. In S32, the user terminal 3 receives the content.

  If it is determined that the access key 13 is illegal, the process proceeds to S33, and the user access monitoring unit 4 transmits to the user terminal 3 guidance indicating the contents that cannot be distributed. In S <b> 34, the user terminal 3 receives a guide indicating contents that cannot be distributed.

  In S23, the user access monitoring unit 4 compares whether the number of accesses to the content distribution request from the user terminal 3 is within a predetermined threshold range. If the threshold has not been reached, the process proceeds to S31 and the data distribution unit 5 The corresponding content is acquired from 6 and the content is distributed to the user terminal 3.

  By doing as described above, it is possible to prevent adverse effects on the network service providing system 1 by an unauthorized user terminal 3 that accesses before or after the permission time, and facilitates data acquisition by the correct terminal. it can.

The block diagram which shows the structure of the network service provision system by this invention. The flowchart which shows transmission / reception of the data of a network service provision system and a user terminal. The block diagram which shows the structure of the network service provision system which concerns on Example 2 of this invention. The flowchart which shows transmission / reception of the data of the network service provision system and user terminal in Embodiment 2. FIG. The block diagram which shows an example of the network service provision system in the conventional network service.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Network service provision system 2 IP network 3 User terminal 4 User access monitoring part 5 Data distribution part 6 Data file 7 Reaccess request time issue part 8 Reaccess request time data 9 Network service provision system 10 Access key issue part 11 Access key data 12 Access Key Inspection Unit 13 Access Key

Claims (6)

User access monitoring means connected to the IP network for receiving content data distribution requests from a plurality of user terminals, monitoring the number of accesses of the distribution requests from the user terminals, and comparing the number of accesses with a predetermined threshold;
Data distribution means for distributing the content data to the user terminal;
Content data storage means for storing the content data and supplying the content data to the data distribution means;
When the number of accesses exceeds the threshold, the re-access that generates a re-access request time for requesting the user terminal to re-access later to request the distribution of the content data, and issues the re-access request time to the user terminal A network service providing system comprising: a request time issuing means.   2. The network service providing system according to claim 1, wherein the re-access request time issuing means generates the previous re-access request time so that the number of accesses in a predetermined time interval falls within the threshold value range. Access for generating an access key for authenticating whether or not the user terminal has a right to re-access at a predetermined time requested for requesting delivery of the content data, and issuing the access key to the user terminal A key issuing means;
Access key data storage means for storing the access key data generated by the access key issuing means;
2. The access key checking means for checking whether the user access monitoring means has the right to re-access the requested access key data received from the user terminal at a predetermined time requested. The network service providing system described.   4. The network service providing system according to claim 3, wherein the re-access request time issuing means generates the previous re-access request time so that the number of accesses in a predetermined time interval falls within the threshold value range. Receiving content data distribution requests from a plurality of user terminals connected to an IP network, monitoring the number of accesses of the distribution requests from the user terminals, and comparing the number of accesses with a predetermined threshold;
Generating a re-access request time for allowing the user terminal to access again to request distribution of content data when the number of accesses exceeds the threshold;
Issuing the re-access request time to a user terminal;
Delivering the content data to the user terminal when the number of accesses does not exceed the threshold,
The re-access request time is generated so that the number of accesses in a predetermined time interval falls within the threshold value range. Generating an access key for authenticating whether the user terminal has a right to re-access at a specified time for requesting delivery of the content data when the number of accesses exceeds the threshold;
Issuing the access key to the user terminal;
Storing the access key data in an access key data storage means for storing the access key data;
6. The network service distribution method according to claim 5, further comprising a step of checking whether the access key data received from the user terminal has a right to re-access at a predetermined time requested.

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